Home Remodeling
By Jeff Morris

Jeff Morris is owner and CEO of Case Handyman & Remodeling, located at 2335 Washington Road in Canonsburg. Case offers a variety of home repair services, from full-house remodeling to simple handyman jobs. For more information, visit www.caseremodeling.com or call 724-745-9888.

Home Improvement Tips for Spring
Spring is the perfect time to start sprucing up your home so you can enjoy the summer worry-free. Here are a few indoor and outdoor tips to help prepare your home for the summer months:

Interior HVAC.
It’s a good idea to have your air system serviced once a year or as recommended by your manufacturer. Cleaning and vacuuming baseboard heaters and draining radiators are recommended.

Make sure you clean and replace all dirty air filters and inspect your home’s heating ducts and vents to solidify any leaky joints or connections to provide maximum efficiency. Leaks force your air conditioner to work harder, raising your energy costs. A home repair specialist can pinpoint problems and provide recommendations on how to fix them.

CrownMolding.
Crown molding adds a handsome architectural detail that gives a room substance.The look of the molding transforms spaces with simple walls into elegant and sophisticated decor. If your home is traditional in design, molding changes a nondescript surface into a focal point and sets your house apart while increasing its perceived value.

New Paint.
Painting is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to enhance the appearance of a room.Whether you are moving into a new home that needs some pizzazz or creating a new look in an old room, a splash of color on your walls can take them from dull to dynamic.

Flooring.
Floors are among the most important elements in giving a home its unique character. Popular hardwood flooring such as oak, hickory and cherry wood are durable and attractive. If you are not a fan of hardwood, you may prefer the all natural look of stone, ceramic and porcelain.They do not require a lot of ongoing maintenance.

New Lighting.
New lighting ties each of the elements together by highlighting visual size, height, depth and color. Your lighting scheme will greatly depend on your room size, wall colors and available natural light. In addition to these simple changes, replacing lighting and electrical outlet plates also adds to the overall atmosphere of any room.

Exterior:
• Exterior inspection. Survey siding, brick, stucco, paint and trim for signs of potential problems.

• Painting the trim, shutters, and the front door add character to your house.

• An ordinary garden hose and a mild detergent are perfect for washing the exterior of your home. Be cautious when using a power washer, especially on siding. Power washers are often powerful enough to force water under siding, where it will encourage mildew and wood rot.

• Storms are notorious for clogging roof gutters with fallen leaves, pine needles and sticks. A high-pressure hose, combined with some old fashion elbow grease will remove the clogs. Installation of gutter guards can help prevent any future clogs.

• Consider a roof inspection. Look for signs of age such as curling, shrinking, broken or missing shingles.

• Replace your Front Door. You can give your home’s entrance an instant lift by choosing custom colors, handsome woods or cutglass storm doors.

• Inspect Window and Door Screens. You can purchase a screen repair kit from your local hardware store. Remove storm doors (if possible) and inspect the caulking around the window frame.

• Add accessories. Brass knockers, outside lighting and mailboxes are small investments that make your house look great.

• Spruce up the grounds.Trim the shrubs and cut the grass so doors and windows aren’t hidden.Make sure the yard is kept tidy.

Remembering My Lai
A Vietnam veteran visits Chartiers Valley high school to recount one of the darkest chapters in U.S. military history.

Unlikely Friendships
A trip to one of Africa’s most desperate countries teaches a CV student that people aren’t so different after all.

Officer of the Year
Scott Township’s Police Department unanimously names Alan Ballo its top cop.

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